Merger Changes Enbt's Identity To Merchants Bank

The Easton National Bank and Trust Co. (ENBT) became history over the weekend as it assumed the name of Merchants Bank.

ENBT, which has been an affiliate of Merchants Bancorp Inc. of Allentown since Dec. 30, 1983, was merged with Merchants Bank, N.A., following the close of business Friday.

Signs at ENBT's eight locations in Easton, Palmer Township, Forks Township, Wilson and Wind Gap were replaced with Merchants Bank signs over the weekend, according to Merchants spokeswoman Rafael Ciesielczyk.

As part of the merger, ENBT Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John G. Keily became vice chairman of Merchants Bank, a move that was announced in late March. ENBT President and Chief Operating Officer John W. Reiner Jr. also became executive vice president of Merchants.

Ciesielczyk said Merchants originally planned to have ENBT remain as an affiliate with its own identity. She said the bank decided to formally merge the two after some ENBT customers expressed a desire to be able to bank at affiliated Merchant Bank locations.

She said that all ENBT employees have been assumed by Merchants and said that some operationshave been closed in Easton and consolidated in Allentown.

When the merger is completed, Merchants says it will be the largest bank headquartered in the Lehigh Valley with assets of $1.3 billion and 42 banking offices in Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon Counties. Another Merchants Bancorp affiliate, Merchants Bank North, is comprised of the assets and offices of the First State Bank in Scranton and the Wyoming National Bank in Wilkes-Barre.